Section-insulator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. B. NICHOLS 85 F. H. LINCOLN. SECTION INSULATOR.

N0.5 z1,124. v mentedJunes, 1894.

UNITED STATES HENRY BERT NICHOLS AND FREDERICK H. LINCOLN, OFPHILADELPHIA,

PATENT OFFICEe PENNSYLVANIA.

SECTION-INSULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 521,124, dated June 5,1894.

Application filed January 25,1894. Serial No. 493,005- (N'o model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY BERT N1011- oLs and FREDERICK H. LINCOLN,citizens of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have jointlyinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Section-Insulators forElectric Trolley Systems, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention has relation to devices for interrupting the circuit ofthe main conductor of an electric trolley system and having means toreadily permit of the establishing of a circuit by the bridging of abreak in the conductor; and it relates more particularly to theconstruction and arrangement of sucha device for said purposes.

The principal objects of our invention are first, to provide a simple,durable and eifective section insulator for the conductor of an electrictrolley system; second to provide a section insulator with means adaptedto readily permit of the establishing of a circuit by the formation of abridge over the device; and third, to provide a section insulator inwhich the construction and arrangement is such, that the momentumacquired by the motor car in its travel will carry the same over thebreak in the line established through said insulator by theinterposition of the same in the main conductor.

Our invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described andclaimed.

The nature and scope of our invention will be more fully understood fromthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective viewof a section insulator for an electric trolley system, embodying thecharacteristic features of our invention; and Fig. 2, is a diagrammaticview, showing an application of our invention to an overhead trolleysystem by the interpo sition of said device in the line conductorthereof.

Referring to the drawings A, is a triangular shaped ornamental block orstrip of fiber,

hard rubber or othei suitable material provided at the apex portion onboth sides thereof with staples or hooks a and a, for the reception ofguys, cords or wires a? and a for supporting the device in its suspendedstate in 'use to required position.

The block or strip A, is coated with a suit able insulating substance soas to thoroughly protect the fiber or other material entering into thecomposition of and forming the body of the structure and in order toobtain absolute security in use thereof.

B and B, are castings, comprising slanting fingers or arms havingsemicircular or channeled bottoms b and b, and with sockets b and bvertical openings b and b and divided ends 19 and b embracing therespective end portions of the block or strip A, and which arepreferably riveted thereto.

The castings B and B, are preferably formed of gun metal, brass or thelike, and the former metal in practice has given excellent results.

0 and O, are the two end sections of the line or main conductor held toposition in the channeled bottoms b and b, and openings 17 and U, of thedevice.

D, is a wire forming a bridge and engaging the sockets b and 12 of thecastings B and B, and held to position by means of the tighteningscrews 1) and b, so that in case of an emergency a temporary circuitconnection by means of the bridge may be established with the sections 0and O, of the line or main conductor, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

With special reference to Fig. 2, illustrating an application of ourinvention, the sockets b and (7 of the device have secured thereto wires(1- and d, connected at their opposite ends with a cut-out switch D,having binding posts (1 and 01 an operating lever d, and

a metallic contact (1. r

e and e, are the electrical feeder wires located on opposite sides ofthe insulating circuit breaker and suitably coupled to or connected withthe sections 0 and O, of theline or main conductor.

f and f, are the sections of a cross line or main conductor and at thepoints of intersection of one line with another is interposed a bridgeG, of any suitable construction and arrangement and with which aresuitably connected electrically and properly insulated from one another,the wires (J and O and f and f, for the safe operation of the system. Inuse, the section insulator device included in the line or main conductoras illustrated in Fig. 2, in the event of any disturbance in thesections 0 and G, of the conductor may be cut out by connecting thewires leading to the switch D, with the sockets b and b, of the deviceand then manipulating the operating handle at, of the switch D, to theleft to disengage the same from the metallic contact (1 when theparticular section of the line will thereby become dead withoutaffecting other sections of the line adjacent thereto or remotetherefrom. It is especially required in case of fire or other casualtiesfor the protection of life to be able to render dead certain portions ofthe line and in such manner as not to affect in the least the otherportions thereof; and moreover, without any interference with therunning of the cars on both sides of the break in the line of thesystem.

Having thus described the nature and objects of our invention, what weclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A section insulator for an electric trolley system, comprising aninsulating block or strip of fiber, hard rubber or the like with endslanting fingers or arms with divided ends engaging said block or stripand each having a channel in the lower edge thereof and a socket, saidchannel of each finger or arm merging with a vertical opening,tightening means connected with each socket, a bridge wire adapted to bedetachably connected with the sockets of said fingers or arms andstaples or hooks connected with said block or strip for the reception ofguys adapted to support the device, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our signatures in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

H. BERT NICHOLS. FREDERICK H. LINCOLN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS M SMITH, RICHARD (J. MAXWELL.

